Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it will participate in a joint demonstration of the next-generation radio access network as part of the C-RAN collaboration project with China Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. Research Institute (CMRI) at the 2014 Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Spain.

China Mobile is the world's largest mobile network operator and a market leader in 3G/LTE and next-generation wireless network development.

Agilent and CMRI signed a memorandum of understanding in Beijing in August 2012 to initiate a collaboration to focus on developing technology and test methods for a next-generation, cloud-based radio access network, or C-RAN. Since then, teams from both companies have been working closely on several technical areas, such as TD-LTE/TD-LTE-Advanced Radio Frequency testing, new test requirements for C-RAN architecture, and parallel computing and software-defined radios. They have made very good progress in each area.

C-RAN is a new approach to network design, using a centralized, collaborative, cloud-based radio access network to build an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, intelligent network. Agilent and CMRI believe the areas they have been working on could lead to a new network design standard for China and for the global wireless network industry.

At the event, Agilent will participate in the joint demonstration of the next-generation radio access networking with IBM and China Mobile, focusing on the software defined radio (SDR) and network function virtualization (NFV). It will demonstrate a pure, software-based LTE base station using the IBM server and cloud platform to set up a live connection to a commercial LTE mobile phone, and then make the baseband IQ signal measurements using the Agilent 89600 VSA software as an application in the baseband pool of the new radio access network. This demonstration will show how the test and measurement capabilities can be used in the next-generation radio access network.

"As a leader in test and measurement, Agilent will continue working on C-RAN with CMCC's research institute and others to define and provide test tools to CMCC and the greater market," said Andy Botka, Agilent vice president and general manager, Microwave and Communications Division. "We are excited to work with CMCC to strengthen the technical leadership position of both companies."

"With this demonstration today, we are showing that based on the new C-RAN architecture, the service-on-edge capabilities, including different types of applications, could be used for the operators in the next-generation mobile network, where measurement applications such as Agilent's VSA software in the baseband pool could be used for troubleshooting the network problems," said Dr. Chihlin I, chief scientist, CMCC Research Institute. "It is a great milestone of collaboration from all the participating partners, including Agilent, IBM and CMCC, on the C-RAN and for the NFV evolution."

Agilent's collaborative work with CMRI on C-RAN reflects the strong commitment by Agilent in China to support industry leaders in the development of next-generation wireless technologies. Agilent plans to continue support the C-RAN collaboration at its R&D center in Beijing, working with CMRI and other C-RAN program participants.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company's 20,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic measurement business. The new company is named Keysight Technologies, Inc. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014.